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Aichi Biodiversity Targets

May 24, 2021 General Studies

The Aichi Biodiversity Targets were a set of global goals adopted in 2010 under the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the 10th Conference of the Parties (COP10) held in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. They formed part of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020, aimed at halting biodiversity loss and ensuring ecosystems continue to provide essential services for human well-being. The plan included a vision for 2050 and a mission for 2020, outlining 20 specific, time-bound targets known as the Aichi Targets.

Background

The CBD, established at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, provides the primary global framework for biodiversity conservation. By 2010, it was recognised that biodiversity loss was accelerating due to deforestation, pollution, habitat fragmentation, climate change, and unsustainable resource use. The Aichi Targets were adopted to build upon earlier commitments and provide a structured roadmap to safeguard biodiversity.

Structure of the Aichi Targets

The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011–2020) was organised into five strategic goals, under which the 20 Aichi Targets were framed:

Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across governments and society.
Reduce direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use.
Improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity.
Enhance benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management, and capacity-building.

Key Targets

Some of the most prominent Aichi Targets included:

Target 5: Halve the rate of loss of natural habitats, including forests.
Target 6: Manage and harvest fish stocks sustainably.
Target 11: Protect at least 17% of terrestrial and inland waters and 10% of coastal and marine areas through well-connected protected areas.
Target 12: Prevent extinction of known threatened species and improve their conservation status.
Target 14: Restore and safeguard ecosystems providing essential services, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Target 17: All countries to develop and implement national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs).

Achievements and Shortcomings

The Aichi Targets produced mixed results by 2020:

Progress achieved:
- Expansion of protected area networks globally.
- Increased awareness of biodiversity in policymaking.
- Growth in biodiversity-related legislation and national action plans.
- Some improvement in sustainable fisheries and forest management.
Targets largely missed:
- None of the 20 Aichi Targets were fully achieved by the 2020 deadline.
- Continued biodiversity loss, species extinction, and ecosystem degradation persisted at alarming rates.
- Financial resources and implementation capacity in developing countries remained insufficient.

Legacy and Global Impact

The Aichi Targets influenced biodiversity policy worldwide:

They provided a benchmark for measuring biodiversity progress at global, regional, and national levels.
National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) were updated in line with Aichi goals.
The targets helped integrate biodiversity into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework.
Their partial failure highlighted the gap between commitments and implementation, underscoring the need for stronger accountability mechanisms.

Transition to the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

The lessons from the Aichi Targets fed directly into the design of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), adopted in 2022 at COP15 in Montreal, Canada. The GBF set new targets for 2030, including the well-publicised “30 by 30” goal to protect 30% of the planet’s land and sea areas by 2030.